Born in England, he is believed to have jumped ship in Wellington in the 1890s and took up life as a shephed, also becoming one of New Zealand's most prolific maritime artists, with a career spanning 40 years. He painted from memory from his time at sea.
The total number of works by Frank Barnes offered for sale by auction since 1973 is 159, of which 123 (77%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $12,068 for Passing Pencarrow on Her First Visit to Wellington N.Z. April 1913 sold by Dunbar Sloane in April 2021. This year 5 works have been offered for sale.
Frank Barnes is listed in the following standard biographical references:
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